Top Rankings
Columbus County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 12 public schools serving 5,419 students in Columbus County Schools. This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Columbus County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
12 Schools
2,734 Schools
# Students
5,419 Students
1,549,621 Students
# Teachers
347 Teachers
96,132 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Columbus County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has increased from 81% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#230 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)42%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)85%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.66
0.72
% American Indian
4%
1%
% Asian
n/a
5%
% Hispanic
13%
22%
% Black
27%
24%
% White
50%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,800 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,466 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$64 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$62 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,800
$11,168
Spending / Student
$11,466
$11,592
Best Columbus County Schools Public Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Columbus Career And College Academy
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4564 Chadbourn Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 788-6281
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 788-6281
Gr: 9-13 | 209 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #22.
Old Dock Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
12489 New Britton Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-2084
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-2084
Gr: PK-4 | 265 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #33.
West Columbus High School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7294 Andrew Jackson Hwy Sw
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-6111
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-6111
Gr: 9-12 | 459 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #44.
South Columbus High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
40 Stallion Drive
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-4073
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-4073
Gr: 9-12 | 669 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #55.
Nakina Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
9822 Seven Creeks Hwy
Nakina, NC 28455
(910) 642-8301
Nakina, NC 28455
(910) 642-8301
Gr: 5-8 | 194 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #66.
Chadbourn Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
409 E Third Avenue
Chadbourn, NC 28431
(910) 654-3825
Chadbourn, NC 28431
(910) 654-3825
Gr: PK-5 | 233 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Acme Delco Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
16337 Old Lake Road
Riegelwood, NC 28456
(910) 655-2957
Riegelwood, NC 28456
(910) 655-2957
Gr: PK-6 | 349 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Hallsboro-artesia Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1337 Giles Byrd Road
Hallsboro, NC 28442
(910) 646-3510
Hallsboro, NC 28442
(910) 646-3510
Gr: PK-6 | 394 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #99.
Williams Township
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
10400 James B White Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 653-3791
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 653-3791
Gr: PK-8 | 659 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #1010.
East Columbus Junior-senior High School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
32 Gator Lane
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
(910) 646-4094
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
(910) 646-4094
Gr: 7-12 | 576 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: n/an/a
203 Stake Road
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3618
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3618
Gr: PK-8 | 598 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: n/an/a
7685 Andrew Jackson Hwy Sw
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Gr: PK-8 | 814 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Columbus County Schools?
Columbus County Schools manages 12 public schools serving 5,419 students.
What is the rank of Columbus County Schools?
Columbus County Schools is ranked #210 out of 314 school districts in North Carolina (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Columbus County Schools?
50% of Columbus County Schools students are White, 27% of students are Black, 13% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Two or more races, and 4% of students are American Indian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Columbus County Schools?
Columbus County Schools has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is equal to the North Carolina state average of 16:1.
What is Columbus County Schools's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $11,466 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
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